Articles

For pet owners · Pet care

How do I find a trustworthy pet sitter in Canada?

Where to look for a pet sitter in Canada, what to check, how to run a meet-and-greet and trial visit, and how to handle keys and emergencies before you go.

For care professionals · Pet care

How do I start a pet sitting business in Canada?

Starting a pet sitting or dog walking business in Canada? Business name registration, the GST/HST small supplier rule, insurance questions and simple records.

For pet owners · Pet care

What questions should I ask a dog walker?

Questions to ask a dog walker in Canada: experience, group or solo walks, off-leash rules, emergencies, insurance and the city bylaws where you live.

For care professionals · Pet care

How do I set my pet sitting rates?

How pet sitters and dog walkers in Canada set rates: pricing travel, overnights, multiple pets, medication and holidays, and presenting rates clearly.

For pet owners · Pet care

Is a pet sitter or a boarding kennel better for my pet?

Pet sitter or boarding kennel? How Canadian pet owners can choose by species, age, health and trip length, and the cases where boarding is the better call.

For care professionals · Pet care

How do I find dog walking clients?

How independent dog walkers in Canada find clients: a clear profile, local presence, referrals within anti-spam rules, fast replies and a strong first meeting.

For pet owners · Pet care

What should I leave for my pet sitter?

A pet sitter checklist for Canadian pet owners: feeding and medication notes, vet authorization, emergency contacts, house notes and what to watch for.

For care professionals · Pet care

What should I cover at a pet sitting meet-and-greet?

What pet sitters and dog walkers in Canada should cover at a meet-and-greet: key questions, a written agreement, keys, an emergency plan and cancellation terms.

For pet owners · Pet care

How often should a pet sitter visit my cat or dog?

How often a pet sitter should visit cats, dogs and small livestock, and when to choose drop-in visits, overnight stays or live-in care in Canada.

For care professionals · Pet care

Should pet sitters take a pet first aid course?

Why pet sitters and dog walkers in Canada take pet first aid, what courses generally cover, where first aid ends and a vet begins, and what vet info to keep.

For parents · Child care

What should I put on a babysitter information sheet and emergency plan?

What to put on a babysitter information sheet in Canada: contacts, address, allergies, medications, routines, house rules and a clear emergency plan.

For families · Elder care

What is the difference between companion care, personal care and nursing care?

Companion care, personal care and nursing care compared for families in Canada: what each covers, who provides it and how to tell which your parent needs.

For property owners · Property care

How do I close my cottage for winter and open it in spring?

How to close a cottage for winter, what to check while it sits empty, and a spring opening checklist for Canadian seasonal properties and who can do the visits.

For care professionals · Child care

Do I need a licence to provide child care in my home in Canada?

Whether home child care needs a provincial licence in Canada depends on your province and how many children you care for. How to check the rule where you live.

For care professionals · Elder care

How can an independent caregiver protect themselves when working with older clients?

How independent PSWs and companions in Canada protect themselves: written care agreements, care notes and tax records, client privacy and insurance questions.

For care professionals · Property care

How do I find clients for house sitting, home watch and property care?

How independent house sitters, home watch providers, cottage caretakers and turnover cleaners in Canada find clients, get referrals and market by the rules.

For parents · Child care

How do I find a babysitter or nanny in Canada?

Where Canadian parents find babysitters and nannies, what to check before choosing one, how to run a paid trial, and what to put in writing before care starts.

For families · Elder care

How do I find in-home care for an elderly parent in Canada?

How Canadian families find in-home care for an aging parent: list the needs, ask about public home care, compare private options and check every caregiver.

For property owners · Property care

How do I find a house sitter in Canada?

How to find a house sitter in Canada: decide what you need, check the person properly, read your home insurance wording and leave a clear written plan.

For care professionals · Child care

What first aid course should a babysitter or nanny take in Canada?

Which first aid and CPR course a babysitter, nanny or home child care provider in Canada should take, how long it lasts and when provincial rules apply.

For care professionals · Elder care

How do I become an independent PSW or home support worker in Canada?

How to start as an independent PSW, companion or home support worker in Canada: training, first aid, vulnerable sector checks, scope and what to set up first.

For care professionals · Property care

How should I set my rates for home checks, turnovers and seasonal property care?

How independent property care professionals in Canada can set rates for home checks, turnovers and seasonal snow and lawn work, and present them clearly.

For parents · Child care

Should I choose a nanny, a daycare centre or a home daycare?

How a nanny, a daycare centre and a home daycare compare for Canadian families, and how licensing of home child care differs from province to province.

For families · Elder care

What questions should I ask an in-home caregiver before choosing them?

The questions to ask an in-home caregiver for an older parent in Canada: experience, training, safety, dementia, boundaries, schedule and what to confirm.

For property owners · Property care

What should a short-term rental turnover cleaning checklist include?

What to put in a short-term rental turnover checklist, what to ask a cleaner before you choose one, and why local rental rules still matter in Canada.

For care professionals · Child care

How do I become a babysitter or nanny in Canada?

How to start as a babysitter or nanny in Canada: first aid and CPR training, building experience, vulnerable sector checks, and what to set up first.

For care professionals · Elder care

How do I find private elder care clients as an independent caregiver?

How independent PSWs and companions in Canada find private elder care clients: where families look, how to present yourself and how to reach out lawfully.

For care professionals · Property care

How do I start a house sitting or home watch business in Canada?

Starting a house sitting, home watch or cottage caretaking business in Canada? Your services, GST/HST basics, records, insurance and a criminal record check.

For parents · Child care

What questions should I ask a babysitter or nanny in an interview?

The interview questions Canadian parents should ask a babysitter or nanny about experience, safety, discipline and emergencies, plus the answers to listen for.

For families · Elder care

What is respite care, and how do I plan a break from caregiving?

What respite care is, the in-home, day program and short-stay options in Canada, and how family caregivers can plan regular breaks before burnout sets in.

For property owners · Property care

Who will clear my snow and cut my lawn while I am away?

Who clears the snow and cuts the grass while you are away? How Canadian homeowners set up snow and lawn upkeep, and why bylaws and liability matter.

For care professionals · Child care

How do I find babysitting or nanny clients?

How independent babysitters and nannies in Canada find families: what parents check, a profile that answers them, referrals, quick replies and a first visit.

For care professionals · Elder care

How should I set my rates for private elder care?

How independent PSWs and companions in Canada can set private elder care rates: what a rate must cover, what changes it, sales tax rules and presenting it.

For care professionals · Property care

How do I start a short-term rental turnover cleaning business in Canada?

How independent cleaners in Canada start doing short-term rental turnovers: scope, tight timing, local rules, damage reports, supplies and GST/HST basics.

For parents · Child care

What is a vulnerable sector check, and how do I ask my nanny or babysitter for one?

What a vulnerable sector check is, what it shows, how a babysitter or nanny gets one in Canada, and how parents can ask for one without relying on it alone.

For families · Elder care

What does a personal support worker (PSW) do, and what don’t they do?

What a personal support worker does for an older parent, which tasks belong to a nurse, how PSW training varies and where public home care fits in Canada.

For property owners · Property care

Who should check my house while I am away, and how often?

Vacant home checks in Canada: why your insurance wording matters, how often someone should visit, and a room-by-room checklist for every visit while away.

For care professionals · Child care

How should I set my babysitting or nanny rates?

How babysitters and nannies in Canada can set rates: what a rate must cover, what changes it, how to present it clearly and how to raise it with families.

For care professionals · Elder care

What should an independent caregiver do, and not do, for an older client?

Scope for independent PSWs and companions in Canada: personal care vs nursing tasks, help with medications, saying no to families and personal boundaries.

For care professionals · Property care

What should I document on every home check?

What home watch providers and house sitters in Canada should record on every visit: a checklist, dated photos, an owner report, key logs and privacy.